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For this special kickoff episode of the new year, we’re flipping the script: I, Zack Arnold, the usual host of Optimize Yourself, step into the guest seat to give you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what 2024 was like for me and my team. My podcast producer, Debby Germino interviews me to give you an inside look at how we dealt with the uncertainty and endless changes that 2024 bestowed upon us. From the challenges of navigating a difficult year in the entertainment industry (as well as my personal life) to the launch of our brand-new Mastermind program, I share the personal and professional journey that brought us here.

We also give you the origin story of the GO FAR framework, my proven method for setting and achieving meaningful goals, and provide a cheat sheet for how you can use it to achieve your goals this year. Whether you’re a creative professional looking for structure in your career or a self-starter ready to take action, this episode is packed with insights and tools to help you move forward in 2025.

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Here's What You'll Learn:

• Zack’s 2024 predictions he wrote in last January's newsletter
• The biggest challenges Zack faced in 2024, including industry shifts, personal losses, and professional setbacks
• Why Optimize Yourself is rebranding and changing the name
• What the Mastermind program is and how it’s different from anything we’ve offered before
• The GO FAR framework: how it works and why it’s the foundation of the Mastermind program
• Practical steps to apply the GO FAR framework to your own career and goals.
• How to turn adversity into an opportunity for growth.

Useful Resources Mentioned:

Ep36: How to Accomplish Your ‘One Thing’ Every Day | with Jay Papasan | Optimize Yourself 

Ep230: The Performance Paradox – How Only Focusing On Performance Leads to Performing Worse | with Eduardo Briceño | Optimize Yourself

Continue to Listen & Learn

Ep201: What I’ve Learned About Life From 200 Interviews with Amazing Human Beings | with Zack Arnold | Optimize Yourself 

Ep143: Mastering the “Chess Mindset” to Achieve Any Difficult Goal (and Get Really Good at Failing Along the Way) | with Misha Tenenbaum

Ep03: The Science Behind Success and Creative Burnout (And Why You’re Approaching Both Mostly Wrong) | with Eric Barker

How I burned out as a burnout coach (and then bounced back)

Ep165: How to Overcome Doubting Yourself When You Know You’re Meant For More | with Sandy Zimmerman, ANW

Ep90: How to Stay Productive (and Stop Procrastinating) During Your Next Hiatus | with Debby Germino | Optimize Yourself

Ep263: The Art of the Pivot: Going From Freelancer to Entrepreneur | with Nick Milo | Optimize Yourself

The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).